All right, good evening and welcome to the 5 p.m.

Tulsa City Council meeting.

You can view this meeting on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, Cox Channel 24, or at Tgovonline.org.

Assisting the council tonight are Jack Blair, our city attorney, Lori Doring, Secretary to the Council, and Bailey Rogers Council staff.

If you wish wish to speak on an agenda item, please see Bailey to complete a request to speak card prior to that item being read.

You will not be allowed to speak on any item that has already been read.

Please join us in pledging allegiance to the flag of our country and remain standing for a moment of silence.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

All right.

People wishing to speak on an agenda item are limited to five minutes total per meeting.

Public input is a time for members of the public to provide insight on the agenda item.

Due to the meeting format, public input is not a time for a question and answer period.

All comments should be relevant to the agenda item and directed to the whole council.

We are using, excuse me, an electronic timing system in front of the speakers at the microphone.

There is a timer that will count down the time used.

A green light will indicate your time is running.

A yellow light will come on when you have 30 seconds remaining in your allotted time and a blinking red light will be shown when your time has been concluded.

Please keep the podium podium area railings and aisles free from recording devices and tripods.

Recording equipment and accessories, including tripods, must be set up in the media center as posted on tonight's agenda.

Certain items are subject to consideration and possible approval, adoption, denial, amendment, or revision.

I call this meeting to order.

Lori, please call the roll.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Here.

Counselor Archie.

Here.

Counselor Dutton.

Here.

Counselor Bellas.

Here.

Counselor Gilbert.

Here.

Counselor Bengal.

Here.

Counselor Dr.

Ray.

Here.

Counselor Lakin.

Here.

Counselor Bush.

Here.

All right.

Item one, receipt and filing of minutes.

One A, minutes of regular meeting held at 4 p.m.

on February 25th, 2026.

B, minutes of regular meeting held at 5 p.m.

on February 25th, 2026.

C.

Minutes held at 4 p.m.

on March 4th, 2026.

D, minutes of regular meeting held at 5 p.m.

on March 4th, 2026.

Do we have any speakers?

She has a handful right now.

Bailey, do we have any speakers on the on one?

Sorry.

That's right.

There are no speakers.

All right.

Is there council discussion?

I move to approve items 1A through D.

Second.

Lori, please call the roll.

Counselor Dr.

Wright?

Yes.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Counselor Hal Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

Yes.

Counselor Bellas.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert.

Yes.

Counselor Bengal.

Yes.

All right.

Items 1A and uh through 1D are approved.

Appointments and reappointments.

Uh 2A and Ms.

Bolan.

Appointment to the HUD Committee Development Committee.

Uh filling a vacant seat.

And Bs Fields reappointment to the Tulsa Arts Commission.

Oh, Mr.

Okay.

Sorry.

Mr.

Fields reappointment to the Tulsa Arts Commission.

Terms expired.

December 1st, 2028.

Do we have any speakers on these items?

There are three speakers.

The first speaker is Mr.

John Huffines on item two A and B.

Good evening, Mr.

Huffeines.

Good evening.

Peace.

Yes, peace.

I'm thankful for our honorable leaders.

The Honorable Council Chair, Karen Gilbert, the Honorable Vice Chair, Christian Bingle, Honorable Counselors, Staff, Team, and Security.

We're grateful to the citizens of this great city of love, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It is a joy to be with you on this 25th day of March in the year of our loving Lord Jesus Christ 2026.

Appointments and reappointments.

A.

Renita Bolan.

Appointment to the HUD Community Development Committee.

And B, Yatika Starfield's reappointment to the Tulsa Arts Commission.

May we continue to honor our employees and volunteers.

Thank you, family.

Thank you, Mr.

Alphines.

Next speaker, please.

Mr.

James Alexander on 2A, followed by Bernice Alexander on 2A.

I just want to say I want to be put on this committee.

I'm ready, willing and enabled.

Thank you.

All right.

Is there council discussion?

Move approval of 2A through B.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Councillor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Councillor Hal Harper?

Yes.

Counselor Archie.

Yes.

Counselor Denton?

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert.

Yes.

Yes.

All right.

Items 2A through 2B are approved.

Are there any commissioners here with us this evening?

Didn't see any.

All right.

Three public hearing, 3A public hearing for council to receive and consider proposed charter amendments.

Is there a motion to enter public hearings?

I move to enter public hearings.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Counselor Doctor Wright?

Yes.

Council Vacances.

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Hall Hart.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Counselor Bailey?

Yes.

All right.

Please.

Um.

Bailey, how many speakers do we have?

There are no speakers.

No speakers tonight.

Okay.

Wow.

All right.

Um with well then with no public with no speakers without objection.

We will exit public hearings.

Um for mayor's item for a report from the mayor or his designee on community events briefing on city activities, city efforts, and new business.

I do not see the mayor with us this evening.

So the remaining items for B through 4Z will not be read aloud.

However, public comments will be received on these items.

Bailey, do we have any speakers?

We have one speaker, Mr.

John Huffines for items for F U W and X.

Thank you, Counselors.

Thank you for always doing your best to make right decisions to help Tulsa be her best.

And God Almighty, we invoke your guidance.

Agenda item 4F, a resolution authorizing a designated official to submit a joint application with the Tulsa Public Schools for the Oklahoma Opiad Grant Award.

Finding extraordinary need to combat the opioid crisis in the city of Tulsa.

God's love, God's word, the Holy Bible can help a person overcome.

Agenda item for you, a $2,000 travel donation from the Congressional Fire Services Institute supports Chief Baker's March 19th, 2026 visit to Washington, D.C.

for the National Fire and Emergency Service Services Symposium.

We are grateful for Chief Baker and for all first responders whose dedicated service helps Tulsa thrive.

The Brookside Neighborhood Association looks forward to welcoming him as a guest speaker on June 1st.

4W, a special event application, live passion of the Lord scheduled for April 3rd, 2026 at 2512 East First Street.

This Good Friday observance includes a daytime procession around midday and an evening silent procession with an anticipated attendance of approximately 400 participants and coordinated street closures supported by police escort.

As shared in the supporting materials, this event offers a vivid reenactment of the stations of the cross, inviting the community into a meaningful remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

It provides an opportunity for many across Tulsa to gather in unity, honoring the life, love, and sacrifice of Jesus, while also recognizing the faith heritage that continues to shape lives and communities.

The sacred presentation keeps before us the significance of Good Friday.

Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary, offering his life and expressing profound love through his sacrifice.

The procession carries a tone of reverence and gratitude while also expressing a quiet joy rooted in hope and redemption.

St.

Francis Savior Catholic Church does well in hosting this impactful event and helping keep this message alive within the community.

This observance aligns with a worldwide recognition of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

4x.

Special event application for the procession of the Passion of the Lord, hosted by St.

Peter and Paul Catholic Church and School, scheduled for April 3rd, 2026, beginning at 1419 North 67th East Avenue.

Presents an opportunity for community members to gather in a meaningful Good Friday observance.

This procession offers a reverent remembrance of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, inviting participants to walk together in unity and devotion with thoughtful planning and coordination, including route guidance and public safety support.

The event is designed to serve both participants and the surrounding community well.

Thank you, Counselors.

Thank you, Mr.

Alphines.

Next speaker, please.

There are no more speaker.

Great.

Is there council discussion?

Move to approve items 4B through 4Z with the emergency clause on 4B through 4F.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Counselor Dr.

Wright.

Yes.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hal Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton?

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

All right.

Items 4B through 4Z are approved with the emergency clause on 4B and 4F.

Five authorities, boards, and commissions, 5A Minor Platte for Flat Rock Ridge edition, consisting of 73 lots, 8 blocks on 18.56 acres located east of the northeast corner of East 36th Street, North and North Peoria Avenue.

Do we have any speakers?

There are two speakers, James and Bernice Alexanders for items 5A.

Good evening once again.

Good evening.

And reading this backup you have with this.

This is a project that's really very messy because for one thing, they build it very close to Peoria.

I mean very close.

Second of all, I didn't think this was a good project at all because what it's doing is moving people into North Tulsa that shouldn't be there.

Higher incomes, which most people are not going to be able to pay.

And they're not black.

Tulsa has a thing about black people and the area that they stay in.

I can go further into it, but I'm not going to do it right now.

Maybe later.

All right.

Thank you.

Is there council discussion?

Move to approve item 5A.

Second.

Please call the roll.

Councilor Dektor Wright?

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hal Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie.

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

Yes.

Counselor Ballis?

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

Right.

Item 5A is approved.

Six ordinances first reading.

The following items in this section of the agenda will not be read aloud.

And without objections, items 6A through 6K will be forwarded to the next council meeting for action.

All right.

7 ordinances, second reading, 7A, rezoning ordinance, MPD 6 from AG to MPD 6 for multiple properties bound by U.S.

Highway 412 East 41st Street, South, South 193rd East Avenue and South 273rd East Avenue requested by Fair Oaks Ranch, LLC and Rob Wall L C.

Uh do we have any speakers on this item?

We have one speaker, Buchanan Dowling for item 7A.

Good evening again, counselors.

My name is Buchanan Dowling.

I live at 2913 East Quaker Street in the neighborhood of Whiskey Ridge.

I'm here once again to ask you to deny the MPD six zoning application.

Now your own 2023 comprehensive plan established employment designations to contain massive industrial footprints.

Your plan explicitly directs you to put heavy industrial areas near major highways while discouraging industrial in close proximity to neighborhood areas.

Yet through MPD six, you're contradicting your own planning standards.

Additionally, there's yet another proposed 375 Project Anthem expansion adjacent to all this on top of the existing 340-acre anthem site, combined with the 646-acre section of MPD's BIC industrial center.

That is 1,361 contiguous acres of industrial development being advanced piece by piece.

Now for reasons beyond me, in the Anthem expansion, staff recommends denial.

Yet for MPD six, staff ref recommends approval.

Why?

The spirit of the city's plan was to create a business and industrial center with incrementally developed mixed use frameworks, not to facilitate a single contiguous hyperscale data center complex.

Now your logic is fundamentally flawed, and doing these projects piecemeal one by one is destroying our city planning.

Furthermore, later in this meeting, you will debate a moratorium on data centers because you know the current zoning codes does not protect residents.

It is completely contradictory to rubber stamp this master plan under rules you're actively trying to freeze.

Finally, let's look at the financials.

The developer for MPD6 promised this council that they will maintain that infrastructure in perpetuity.

But if you look at the project anthem plan right next door, it explicitly states that the city of Tulsa is legally responsible for the maintenance.

And just two weeks ago, at most LLC formally donated the right of ways and sidewalks back to the city.

Now that's not a gift.

That's a transfer of liability.

Now this is America.

We believe in capitalism, but this is a definition of corporate socialism.

Why are we rolling out the red carpet for tech giants with 85% tax abatements for Anthem, 100% tax abatements for Clydes Hill, while nearby residents such as myself are asked to live with those consequences?

And the city is responsible for the expansion's upkeep.

Now remember, they need our resources more than we need them.

Please protect the existing taxpayers and deny MPD six.

Thank you.

Was that the that was the only speaker?

Yes.

All right.

Do we have is there council discussion?

Oh, yes, Councilor Bellis.

Yeah.

I had one you know, thank you for your words.

I had one clarification about um since you mentioned the concern about the zoning code, just to extend to everyone, and then maybe one question that I'm looking at Aaron that could answer.

He's like, no.

Um since you brought up, hey, we're in the next agenda item going to be looking at addressing zoning related to these.

Well, in this one, we're approving zoning that could potentially allow for these.

There is um language that was added and amended between the last time this was on for discussion and this time that says that hey, as we update our zoning code, this is going to go to meet that standard.

Just so you know, so it does have kind of a guardrail there for that.

I know that's not everything, but just a little bit of assurance on that measure.

And then I think my other curiosity, since it was mentioned about maintenance of um roads and infrastructure, is there anything to clarify there?

Erin, I'm sorry to put you on the spot.

I really can answer that question on behalf of Fair Oaks.

Okay, but it's set because it's separate from the other roads that he was referring to.

Yes.

Okay.

It was stated here in a meeting that they would take care of that maintenance, but I can't speak to that from my position on what they're going to do.

So the but that's not is that baked, it's not baked into any contract or we don't.

Sorry, I see someone else who might know.

Okay.

Yeah, it's doing it.

Yep.

Okay.

Please do.

Yeah.

Just please give us your name and association.

Uh Davis Robson.

Um just wanted to come up and try to clarify a little bit there.

So I know they made a blanket statement last week that we were funding all of the maintenance.

Uh there are systems in place to fund the maintenance of infrastructure.

So if it's private roads in a private development, there's an association that's put in place that manages and owns those facilities.

For public arterial roads and things of that nature, that that is uh city expense.

Okay.

Thanks.

That's helpful.

Okay.

Thank you both.

Anything else?

No.

Thanks.

Anyone else have a question?

All right.

All right.

Is there any other council discussion?

Move to approve item 7A.

Second.

Uh Lori, please call the roll.

Counselor Dector Wright.

Yes.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush?

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

No.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

All right.

Um item 7A is approved.

7B, ordinance declaring a 365-day moratorium on the acceptance of applications for processing of and issuance of building permits that would allow construction on or use of property for data centers.

Use located in the city of Tulsa providing for an exception and appeal process providing effective and repealed uh dates.

This also carries the emergency clause.

Do we have any speakers?

There are 19 speakers.

Do we have this separated into?

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

So I've been we have 19 speakers.

We have 30 minutes for uh an item to be discussed.

So we'll we will let each speaker give two minutes uh to speak.

So um Bailey, will you please call the first speaker?

Our first speaker is Violet Schaus.

Good evening.

My name is Violet.

I am nine years old and I live in midtown.

I'm here tonight to speak about the proposed AI data center.

Here are six reasons why I am why I am against building the center.

Number one, energy costs.

A single data center can use up as much energy as 100,000 homes.

Larger centers can use up as much as two million homes.

This could cause a big strict strain on our local power systems.

Number two, water supplies.

Data center server coolers can use up to 300,000 gallons of water per day.

Large ones can use five million gallons.

This is the same amount that a whole small town can use.

This could cause a major impact on our environment.

Number three, air pollution.

Diesel-fueled backup generators release pollution into the air.

This is harmful to people with asthma and breathing problems.

One example in Virginia said.

Data centers centers, cooling systems, and backup generators are very noisy.

Even small generators can reach 85 decibels.

That's loud enough to harm our hearing.

Large ones can reach 100 decibels, which is as loud as a jackhammer or motorcycle.

These noises can last for hours or days at a time, giving people headaches and a sharpening their sleep.

Number five, land use.

Data centers use up 224 acres.

That's the size of 450 football fields.

That is an issue because it takes up land that could be used for many new businesses, homes, or farms.

Number six, job opportunities.

Well, yes, building the data center would give people jobs.

Construction is temporary.

Even the largest data centers only employ fewer than 150 permanent workers.

Sometimes they employ as few as 25 people.

That's not many jobs here.

How much land it would use up.

Thank you.

Good job.

Good job.

That was impressive.

All right.

Uh call the next speaker.

I just want to compliment that speaker on watching the clock and wrapping it right on the dot.

That was watching.

Grown-ups don't even do that, so congratulations.

Very good job.

All right, please call the next speaker.

Our next speaker is Buchanan Dowling.

I won't reintroduce myself to save time.

We need this pause because of the staggering scale of what developers are trying to rush into our metro area.

Let's look at the numbers.

The contiguous section I just mentioned of Project Anthems, 1,361, by far the largest.

Project Clydesdale in Owasso, 506.

Project Atlas in Coeta, 450.

Project Spring in Sand Springs, 827.

There's Project Mustang in Claremore.

Could not find an acreage there.

That's over 3100 acres total, nearly five square miles of proposed data center development.

We desperately need a strategy of containment.

It is clear that developers are rushing to get their projects approved before you can put proper guardrails in place.

You might ask what we should do during this pause.

Now you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Just this month, Montur County, Pennsylvania passed a comprehensive data center ordinance that you can use as a blueprint.

Their ordinance legally defines data centers as unique structures and mandates hard decibel limits for cooling systems, requires 24-7 noise monitoring and strict vibration studies.

Massive setbacks from residential property lines and independent hydrology studies so they don't drain our local aquifers.

Other municipalities are waking up to the regulating this runaway train.

Tulsa is flying blind.

Pass the moratorium, freeze these applications, and let's take the time to get this right.

Remember, they need us more than we need them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, call the uh please call the next speaker.

The next speaker is Cheyenna Morgan.

Good evening.

Hey y'all.

Uh my name is Cheyenna.

I'm a homeowner in District 6.

I am a national expert and researcher on the impacts of hyperscale data centers.

Um I am being tapped by many different groups, both native and non-native.

I am asking you this evening to pass this data center moratorium.

Data center developers are courting you all and planning staff with big promises that will ultimately fall flat.

Developers make promises of increased jobs, carbon neutrality, water positivity, and having limited noise pollution.

While in the construction phase of development, there are jobs that are needed to build out the infrastructure, but the long-term costs and job loss due to hyperscale data centers cannot be understated.

According to the 2020 census, 33.6% of Tolson's hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

Recent calling college graduates are already struggling to find employment in their field of study due to generative AI.

Goldman Sachs just recently published a report that estimates that 300 million jobs are at risk of being automated due to generative AI.

We're already seeing Oklahomans losing their jobs to AI.

Job loss due to hyperscale data centers.

Um not only puts individual Tolson's at risk, it also puts tax revenue for Tulsa on the line.

We're seeing states losing millions to billions in tax revenue due to tax incentives.

See states like Virginia with 733 million dollars in loss, and Texas with one billion in loss.

Data center developers will make claims that their facilities will be carbon neutral and they are only measuring carbon footprints at the site.

You must not ignore that energy that powers these facilities comes from the same energy that powers our homes, and PSO utilizes coal and natural gas for energy.

Yes, the behind it.

Um thank you.

Thank you.

Please call the next speaker.

The next speaker is Ashley Lamont.

Greetings, council.

I am the national campaigns director for Honor of the Earth, a 30-year-old international indigenous and environmental rights organization, a tribal member, and a lifelong Oklahoman.

We have been helping communities all across the nation organize against the encroachment of hyperscale data centers and generative AI.

As for myself, I hold two master's degrees in STEM and knowing these facts is my job on a national level.

I can attest, and surely you have seen for yourself that the pushback against this specific type of development transcends race, class, party line, and location.

I originally wanted to speak on environmental concerns, but time constraints and the recent conversations in the city surrounding policing, live PD, and first 38.

I felt it critical to use my time here to also discuss what the data being bought, sold, and stored in hyperscale data centers is actually being used for.

Mass surveillance of American citizens.

While I've yet to see or experience the benefits of generative AI or hyperscale data centers, one thing is clear.

Some may argue that this technology is neutral, but the truth is human beings have biases.

MIT has already put out statistics that show that light-skinned men, there's only a 0.8% error, whereas for dark-skinned women, there's a 34.7%.

So this means the AI apps that law enforcement are using lead to a lot of false positives and unreliable results for those who have darker skin tones.

And we've already seen that happening here in Tulsa without this technology.

And we know these biases exist in law enforcement agencies.

Um, hence y'all's work with the Office of Independent Monitoring.

The reality is the automated monitoring of human beings contributes even further to targeting errors and will only exasperate uh exasperate the already existing issues between Tolson's and law enforcement.

Um, law enforcement is retrieving this information from public and private databases alike, and we know that with the data leaks with uh Elon Musk and the hacks, um, that this is something leaving our communities at target.

Um, of course, you know, not to mention that these developments make us targets, not just from being hacked, but also as witnessed by the war on Iran and Amazon data center being hit by a drone strike.

Your time is expired.

Thank you.

Call the next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Mitchell Gilliam.

Hi, Council.

I am Mitchell Gilliam from uh Council Ford.

Hi, Laura.

Uh yeah, I will I can truncate a lot of what I was going to say.

Um, but it was AI that was their, you know, part of the strike, one of our first strikes in Iran hitting that uh school for girls, AI, their reports that played a big part in that.

But moving on from that, we are at the beginning of the AI data boom.

That's why they're trying to rush everything in right now that we see.

Um there's an overwhelming number of reports and the detrimental nature of data centers, as the speakers before have said about noise pollution, uh, breathing, water, the use of resources.

Uh there are very few reports on the perceived advantage for the communities that house these massive data centers.

Uh in saying that we are at the beginning of the data boom.

Yesterday, just yesterday, OpenAI unexpectedly shut down their video production app, Sora.

That was a big part of what they were doing.

One of these big rushes why we have to build now and throw everything out.

Caution to the wind.

And it's just gone, and a huge negotiation with Disney is halted.

This uncertainty is reminiscent of the dot-com boom and crash in the late 90s, early 2000s.

We're on a precipice.

This is unprecedented right now, what we're walking into.

This is life-changing technology and a moratorium on data centers would allow Tolson's to carefully enter this new era with appropriate time to weigh the pros and cons.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please call the next speaker.

The next speaker is Danielle Kresikowski.

Good evening.

Hello again, Council.

Thank you very much for having us.

I will try to be as quick as possible.

Uh let me just reiterate some of my credentials.

I have an accounting degree from OSU and MBA in finance from OSU.

I am currently a CPA candidate, and if you know anything about the CPA exam, there is a very large portion that is based on ethics.

You have to get a 90% or better in order to be a CPA on the ethics exam.

So needless to say, ethics are very important to me.

I am also a member of the association of certified fraud examiners.

I am also a certified ethical leader by the NASBA Center for Public Trust.

So ethics are extremely important to me, and I'd like to read to you a definition.

A conflict of interest occurs when personal interests, relationship, or outside activities compromise a person's professional judgment or duties, potentially leading to unethical decision.

Types include self-dealing, nepotism, and gifts.

Self-dealing/slash financial.

When an official uses their position to benefit themselves or their organization financially, often termed acting on both sides of a deal.

A board member voting on a contract involving their own company.

An official allowing personal financial investments to influence their regulatory duties.

I read an article the other day that AON got 174 million dollar contract with data centers.

One of our board members is an employee of Aon.

And I don't believe that the conflict of interest has a been admitted.

And I believe that person should recuse themselves from a vote.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Call the next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Darren Blanchard.

Madam Chair.

On the last speaker.

So Counselor Bush, I think is who you're referring to.

And I just want to say that we have discussed as a counsel with Counselor Bush, he brought it to us.

And I don't want to speak for you, but I just did want to clarify that we did discuss our ethics ordinance, our processes for financial disclosure, which we all file publicly, and the consultation that we each engage in with the city attorney to review our uh potential conflicts, perceived or otherwise.

That's why I recuse off of arts commission appointees.

I don't have a conflict, but it could be perceived that I do.

So I just wanted to give Counselor Bush uh the floor to um clarify what she did for us.

Well, then thank you.

I appreciate that, and I appreciate the comments.

I have actually recused myself from things when I has been a conflict.

This was not a conflict of interest.

Uh we've checked with legal, I've read the ordinances, I've gone to the um the code of ethics, I've been in the political world for a really long time.

So I do understand that and I appreciate it.

If there were a conflict, I would definitely recuse myself, but there isn't at this time.

But I appreciate that.

And thank you for the support.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh go ahead.

Sorry.

Darren Blanchard, I live in Mounds Creek County.

Some of you may recognize me as uh approximately about a month ago, I was arrested in Claremore at a public meeting talking about a data center.

Uh I encourage you to propose or pass this moratorium as these projects are being fast-tracked.

We can look at Stillwater, where we have a multimillion dollar lawsuit as a result of uh not mitigating stormwater runoff properly.

We can look at Sand Springs.

There are multiple lawsuits, and they haven't even started construction yet.

So it's just a sign that this is a mad dash to get these ARPA funds that expire at the end of the year.

Um so again, let's put a pause on this.

I've looked heavily into the situations of Coeta and Claremore.

These are heavy industrial applications.

They're putting in natural gas combustion turbine power plants to the tune of about 400 to 500 megawatts.

That's a heavy industrial application.

There's a lack of transparency uh with not only from our government, but the private developers as well.

Uh they're telling the communities one thing, but behind closed doors doing something else.

I want to submit some uh documentations for the record.

One of them is a communication from the assistant district attorney of Wagner County, where this project is at.

Also a Tulsa World article in which they had interviews with multiple city managers, including one from Coeta, which called people Facebook warriors.

I'm not on Facebook, I'm here.

I went to jail for a cause that I believe in.

Um I think uh they criticize the people standing up and speaking against these projects, saying that we don't know what we're talking about.

Uh the problem is the government is forgetting to listen to the people.

Thirteen letters of Latin, e pleurbus unum that stands for out of many one.

Last I checked, there were 19 people here to speak for the in favor of the moratorium.

Do not forget that.

Listen to your people.

This is not national security, this is corporate welfare, this is crony capitalism masquerading itself as national security.

Get the moratorium.

I want to present these for the record.

Thank you.

Bailey, will you please call the next speaker?

Our next our next speaker is Nate Morris.

Uh hey y'all, good evening.

First of all, thank you, Counselor Bellis, for bringing this to the floor for folks to be able to speak on and vote on.

And thank you to Tavetashea to Ash and everybody else who's laid out a really incredible picture of why this moratorium is important.

I just want to give a personal anecdote.

So I grew up in Prince William County in Northern Virginia.

When I was a kid, a lot of the area that I grew up in looked a lot like East Tulsa now, or looked a lot like the kind of exurbs of Tulsa, where there's a lot of land, there was a lot of trees, there were a lot of fields, a lot of battlefields for the history buffs up here.

And a lot of, you know, as I go back a couple times a year, slowly but surely and faster at this point, the area that I grew up in doesn't look like the area I grew up in anymore.

It doesn't look like fields, there's no more trees, there's no more areas that are beautiful and adjacent to battlefields.

There's none of that.

There are concrete boxes everywhere.

Everywhere you look across Runner, Virginia, everywhere you look across rural Prince William County, it's just concrete boxes of data centers.

And so I I just encourage looking at this from a space of here's what has happened to that place I grew up.

I'm encouraging you to please make to pass this moratorium in order to ensure that it doesn't happen here.

That doesn't happen to people here.

So the kids that grow up here get to drive around East Tulsa, get to drive around the excerpts and still see fields and still see forests and still see hills.

Granted, I think there I grew up as a little bit prettier, but that's okay.

Noted.

Um it's gorgeous though, right?

We have those, we have that ability to still be a big city and have this beautiful landscape.

Why would we give that up for a few dollars?

So I just encourage you to pass this moratorium.

I also just want to say that in Prince William County, my s this has become the biggest political issue.

And any of the politicians that were on the county commission that didn't stand uh for moratoriums or didn't stand up with the people are no longer in their seats.

So just also giving you that um that view from the future as well.

So thank you all, appreciate it.

All right.

Bailey, please call the next speaker.

The next speaker is Aidan Townsley.

Hi, Tulsa.

I am Aiden Townsley, and while the focus of my time is mainly environmental, I appreciate a former Sperky bringing up the massive surveillance risk of these data centers.

Letting unstable billionaires try and gain power over citizens is not something that we can do.

Um I'd like you to vote in favor of pausing all new data center projects, but I'd also implore you to go further and work towards pausing ongoing projects like uh Project Anthem Phase One.

With the advent of large language models, we've seen billions of dollars poured into data centers across the U.S.

The behavior of these companies is appalling.

Um and in many, if not all cases, there has been devastating impact to the communities where they're placed.

We do not have to wait to see these impacts.

Uh there's already been noise, air, and water pollution all around them.

Property values suffer, the job creation seems to be almost non-existent once the center is built.

Memphis saw Elon Musk come in and uh promise that they're only going to run like two gas turbines.

They're now running 35, continually constantly being observed doing this illegally.

Um and that's just like power, okay.

We also see that like Anthem and Clydesdale want to use 3.2 billion uh gallons of water each year, and I do not think Oklahoma can sustain that level of ask.

Um then we talk about noise.

These things can hit 97 decibels of noise, which affect people's ability to sleep in their homes, forcing some to pay thousands of dollars to insulate their homes just to sleep at night.

This is an environmental health risk.

Um these it's just at the end of the day, it's clear that these centers do not benefit the community.

They benefit these large corporations, and we can't let that happen.

So Tulsa City Council, we're calling on you to do your duty tonight and protect people from data centers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Call the next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Kelsey Royce.

Hey guys.

Good evening.

Good evening.

How are you?

Okay.

Great.

All right.

Um Council.

Chairman.

Um I believe that this council owes the people of Tulsa and surrounding residents a duty of care and the integrity of its actions that is clearly undermined by making an exception for Project Anthem.

I support the moratorium.

I do not support the ex the exception.

Um Project Anthem is um the private client of Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority's chairman, Mr.

Lou Reynolds.

And for those of you unfamiliar with Tulsa Metropolitan Utility Authority, TMUA here and after, and the scope of its authority, this is a body that oversees infrastructure contracts and wastewater treatment improvements, storm sewer systems.

It is clearly a conflict of interest for the private client of Project Anthem to sit on the body that he does.

When you approve this, with that exception, you are too included in this sort of corruption.

Let's call it what it is.

So I would encourage this body to not provide an exemption for Project Anthem.

And I hope that you do the right thing because that's what you owe us as representatives of the people and not Project Anthem.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Amber Ellis.

Hello, my name is Amber Ellis.

I'm from Rogers County.

I am here to speak on a side and an oath that each one of you take.

One nation under God.

That's the oath that you take.

And you see.

Okay.

Um it's to the people, not to money.

When you stand before the Lord at the end of your life, he will not say, good job on making billions of dollars a year and killing my children.

He'll say, Well done, faithful servant, or I never knew you depart from me.

And your existence will end.

And so, like before, every single one of you have an opportunity to turn things around for the people that you represent here.

And I hope that you will make the right choice or lose your seat.

Thank you.

Next next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Kelly Bogman.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name's Kelly Bogerman.

Do you guys mind stop scrolling on your phones and playing on your computers while we're talking?

Thanks.

I'm with Rogers County OK Land Heritage.

I represent 493 people in my community.

Job and goal of my organization is to protect the land, protect the land in my community as well as the land here.

I would like to you guys to pass the moratorium.

I think it will speak to the wisdom of this committee in that we need to reevaluate what we want and the future that we would like for our communities.

Jobs.

Meta had a recent layoff.

AI is not a sustainable employment.

If this wasn't a case of national security, they'd be building them on federal land that's been provided.

It is a very harsh change in reality for many people across many communities for one data center.

There is zoning.

Every day.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

The next speaker is James Alexander Jr.

Good evening once again.

Good evening.

Hey, in reading your backup, this is really something.

Now, we'll I'm gonna talk from Georgia.

Georgia is going to lose 2.5 billion dollars in sales tax from their uh plan.

Now what the data centers do is uh they ask for a pause.

Not to have any more data centers because what they're doing is they're stealing from the people that really need it.

And it's called unconscionable.

And uh these companies that are really rich companies are taken from the neighborhoods and families.

Nobody see a problem with that.

That's what's happening.

But also in your backup, you have about maybe 40, 50 or more places where data similarist can go in Tulsa County.

Read the backup.

Read it tonight.

Because these people have already set up what they want without even asking you.

Let's get this straight.

This is illegal and it's unconscionable, and it's a damn lot.

Next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Bernice Alexander.

All right.

Next speaker, please.

Our next speaker is Jessica Perraza.

Hi.

Hi.

My name is Jessica Prosa.

I also go by Juni.

I am a resident and homeowner from district district three.

I graduated from the University of Tulsa in 2022 with a degree in computer science, and I have a background in machine learning research.

After graduation, I decided instead of pursuing tech and my undergrad research to dedicate my first years of my career to public service in Tulsa.

Most importantly, I am a Tulson and I have lived in District 3 in the Kendall Whittier neighborhood pretty much my whole life.

I'm here because I was honored to serve the public for a few years in the city.

I'm concerned about the implications for myself and those communities if these developments continue.

There are an overwhelming number of reports on the detrimental nature of these data centers, and very few on their positives for the immediate communities that house them.

It is ridiculous to consider this project at this time when we could so easily utilize all of the resources described towards something better for this city, like equitable housing developments and environmental initiatives.

Tulsons deserve so much better than this project.

I'm in agreement with the proposed moratorium.

For the people that you serve in the city rather than corporations, take care of your people.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

The next speaker is Joseph Benuelos.

Good evening.

What's up, guys?

Um I am for the moratorium, and I just want to offer some perspective from the people that I know.

Um, as many people have said some many great things today and set a great foundation to expand the topic of AI and data centers.

Um there's a lot of people here in Tulsa who have benefited who have had great memories because of the entertainment here in Tulsa and because of the artists here in Tulsa.

Um the quirkiness of our town is very special to me, and I'm sure to a lot of you, it's a lot of you that are here today.

Uh, what generative AI will be taking from people, aside from their cognitive decline, will be taking away their creativity, the livelihoods, and the passion to make art, the art that we benefit from every first Friday, third Thursday, or whatever art you attend and leave home.

For all the artists that can't be here because they have to work several jobs for all the artists that are just now growing into their artistry.

Um I think a moratorium is necessary for their growth, for the amount of jobs that they could have available in the future.

And I think that if you in any way attribute yourself as someone who appreciates art, whether it be the clothing that you're wearing, the car that you chose, the things that you have in your home, you can do them all a service.

Because I've spoken to almost every Tulsa artist I can imagine, and I know they're waiting for for more help.

They're waiting for more opportunity, and I will take that away from us.

And AI will take that away from us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Bailey, do we have two more speakers?

Our next speaker is Jameson Campo.

And then do we have another speaker?

Yes, we have two more.

Two more.

Thank you.

Hi, Council.

My name is Jameson Campo, and I'm just gonna pick up where our expert left off.

I have seen the narrative that tech companies are aiming to be water positive by 2030, which is a wild claim considering the sheer amount of potable drinking water that these facilities will be using.

With both Project Clydesdale and Project Anthem projected to use a collective of 3.2 billion gallons of municipal water per year, we must ask the question how these water comp how these companies plan to be water positive.

In reading some of the narratives directly from tech companies like Meta and Amazon around water positivity, they plan on offsetting their water use by doing things like watershed restoration.

As if it somehow makes the water that they are just charging from these developments no longer polluted and undrinkable for future generations.

Water positivity is just another false solution to the climate catastrophe and kicks the can of problems down the road.

The claim that these developments will abide by state and federal environmental regulations is preposterous when we are seeing environmental regulations rolled back at an alarming speed, leaving citizens with little to no recourse to hold industries accountable.

These so-called promises of being good stewards in the communities they occupy are false solutions to the huge environmental and economic impacts that they will have on us.

As citizens of Tulsa, we are counting on our representatives and this body to have the ethical fortitude that benefits the citizens of Tulsa and not the industrial extraction.

I implore City Council to pass this moratorium.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Michael Pagano.

Hello.

Hello, good evening.

Good evening.

Thank you all for holding space for everybody to speak on this today.

But I pulled from Stanford University.

This is in 2024.

It's data from 2024.

That's 11.4% of their state's power.

And Virginia, 25.6% of their state's power.

And the trend that we see in these data centers is that there's an acceleration in demand of power from the centers.

And that increases relatively quickly.

And if you kind of put that next to their employment, which rises really slowly and kind of stagnates.

And they have as I think somebody before me mentioned a relatively small amount of employees that are like permanent that get paid a decent amount of money.

I also am concerned about monitoring and the consolidation of data.

I feel like we're really running into really speculative new things and a moratorium would allow us more time to take it seriously.

Like I think it would be wise to this.

Thank you.

Bailey, just to confirm, was that the final speaker?

We have one more speaker.

But one more?

Okay.

Tashi McKellup.

It's good to see you all again.

Thanks for having us here to talk tonight.

I uh I don't know how everybody gets up here and sounds so confident, I'm always like shaking.

My hands are cold, but it's fine.

Um I'm also in favor of passing the moratorium.

Um really begging you to pass this for the sake of the land, the water, and our people.

Uh I'm honestly not sure that there's much that I can say now that will convince you of this uh of the importance of this that all of my fellow Tulsans haven't already said.

Um to be completely honest, uh if uh you don't, I'm going to assume that your pockets are being filled uh because I really can't imagine any other reason uh that you wouldn't be listening to the 19 people in this room today, all in favor of this moratorium as well as all of the people who can't be here because like you said, the working class families working jobs that are going to be affected the most by this.

Um yeah, there's just such a vast amount of evidence that I really think speaks for itself.

So please listen to us and to your heart and pass this moratorium.

Thank you.

Modo.

Thank you.

Okay.

Is there council discussion?

Councilor Denton.

I want to thank everybody that came out and spoke.

Um I really appreciate that.

Um and those in City Council District 3, thank you.

I'm your representative, in case you didn't know.

And I hope that everybody read the backup material because that's really important information.

What I would like to address are the noise issues that North Tulsa and Northeast Tulsa deal with on a daily basis.

We have the airport with F-15 fighter jets that fly five at a time, sometimes six times a day from the morning and early evenings at night.

That actually shakes the windows of my home.

And if I'm on the phone with somebody, I cannot hear them and I have to call them back.

I'm also concerned about the noise because we have the query, the APAC quarry, not too far from this project anthem location, which causes a lot of noise and vibrations where people's homes have actually sustained damage.

I'm also uh concerned because Project Clydesdale and Mustang are within proximity as well, within District 3.

And I also know that from what I read that data centers primarily set up, despite the argument that there's available land more here than there, set up in disenfranchised areas where people have lower income levels.

I'm also concerned, and I want to express gratitude for the bringing up of climate, that we are currently in a drought right now.

There are no guarantees that we're going to have water to sustain, and we know we're in a drought because of all the fires that are ongoing just to the west of us.

Some not too far.

There's some actually in Barnesdall right now.

So I am grossly concerned with you all, and I share the sentiment if it were up to me, I would have a moratorium period.

I think that what my colleague has brought to the table and the discussions we had today, that this is the beginning.

I know it feels like a compromise.

But on the other hand, in order for a moratorium to take place, we have to start somewhere.

And this is where we are going to start.

I just want you to know that I support fullheartedly a moratorium.

And again, I would like to reiterate, I would like to support a moratorium indefinitely.

So that's those are my words.

Thank you.

I am finished.

All right.

Uh Counselor Bellis.

I feel like you're not going to be able to do that.

Okay, I probably will have something to say.

Well, if you want to go first, I'm gonna end up uncapping it so I can go make a motion like a fancy person.

But actually, could I just real quick?

I'm so sorry, ma'am.

With the um you're uh the flash is on and I'm neurospicy.

Would you mind on yeah, thank you so much.

I might have you can finish it.

Okay.

Um sorry.

Thank you, everyone for speaking.

Um I have a question for uh Susan Miller from the planning office.

Can you come?

And I'll I'll just ask while while you're walking.

So um in the you know, from now until December 31st of 2026.

Can you just kind of give us um an insight into the sort of work that you all at the planning office will be doing and presenting us, you know, what what can we be expecting?

So we've just can you hear me?

So we've just started to meet, um, started looking at things like the size of data centers.

We really there's a there's a map.

If you Google like data centers in Tulsa, you can see them all.

So we're doing a little research on the size of those and trying to understand where that threshold is.

And we've looked at other ordinances, and sometimes there's you know several different um square footages, and there's different rules for those.

So we're we're starting to look at that aspect of it.

Setbacks are tricky because uh the noise carries a while, so to set it back 150, 200 feet uh may not even make that much of a difference.

So we're looking at those things.

Um, anything related to land use and how it can be placed on a site, um proximity to residential, so those things that we can hopefully capture in a zoning code, and again, those impacts that would could possibly make it more appropriate for modern industrial.

So those are the things we're looking at.

So we've started kind of looking at all different codes and and different factors like that.

Thank you.

Uh it's my understanding Cherokee Nation also has some research that they're doing.

You're going to incorporate that as well.

Yeah, we're going to reach out to them at some point.

I think I don't even know that they've gotten started.

So I don't know.

They start to do that.

There's people behind you who are consulting on it, so we can they start on Monday.

Okay, thank you.

So uh so I don't know if we're gonna be parallel.

I don't know if we need to kind of get together at the beginning.

If someone has some contact for me, that'd be great.

Okay.

That's my that's my question.

All right.

Thank you, Ms.

Miller.

Um Counselor Denton, did you have something that you wanted to finish?

Oh, I do.

I'm sorry.

I just also wanted to say that when we're back here on our phones, it doesn't mean that we're necessarily playing that we're actually doing some data research as well.

Um I appreciate it looks like that, but it's our ability to be able to access information to follow up with questions that maybe you all ask.

Like y'all have yeah.

All right.

Uh counselor, anybody else down on that end?

Counselor Bellis?

Okay.

Um, and thank thank you, Counselor Archie, for those questions, because I think that helped us reaffirm you know what we're focusing on right now and what we're getting time to study is that land use element.

Um I really do want to thank everyone who took the time to come and speak, including from outside of Tulsa.

Good to meet you all.

Um I'm really grateful for people's time and attention.

And I acknowledge that this is not, you know, you heard from Counselor Dunn going, I would do a moratorium forever on all of this.

Um it, you know, it wasn't easy for me to say, okay, we'll do certain exceptions in this or look at the different timelines, but I'm grateful to my colleagues for really nuanced discussion.

Um I do think this is a good start point in us learning a lot more and doing what we can to put guardrails um and do what we can to protect people.

Um I and I'm also not someone who's gonna let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I think what we are hopefully going to pass tonight is good and can make a difference.

And I do also want to emphasize to people that while we have um exceptions in place that you know phase two of project anthem's not a foregone conclusion, it has to go through a zoning process that there's plenty of opportunity to publicly engage around.

Anyway, with that, I'm about to make a lengthy motion.

Um I'm gonna move to approve item seven B with um the following revised language for section um two B, which reads project anthem phase two, this moratorium shall not apply to this moratorium shall uh not apply to one additional data center, which is the subject of pending zoning case Z7851, if and where appropriately zoned.

Um moving to approve that with the emergency clause.

Second.

All right.

Lori, will you please call the role Ma'am?

Just a point of order real fast.

In that in that motion, it's it's as it's written in the backup.

It doesn't have anything to do with the 365-day moratorium anymore.

It's it's yes, as it as it is in the backup.

That's oh thank you.

That's a really good clarification.

Do I need to redo that the full motion?

Oh, thank goodness.

I just wanted to emphasize whether or not what's included in the back of the case.

This is through the 365 days.

It's a nine months.

Yes, this is through just the end of the year.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Good clarification.

All right.

Now, Lori, will you please call the roll?

Counselor Director Wright.

Yes.

Counselor Lakin.

Yes.

Counselor Bush.

Yes.

Counselor Hall Harper.

Yes.

Counselor Archie?

Yes.

Counselor Dutton.

Yes.

Counselor Bellis.

Yes.

Counselor Gilbert?

Yes.

Counselor Bengal?

Yes.

Okay.

Motion is approved with the emergency clause and the amended language.

Council item number eight, council items, counselors' announcements and reports on current community events, activities, efforts, and concerns other than announcements and reports.

No discussion will ensue.

Councilor Hall Harper, do you have an announcement?

Yes.

Yes, I would like to invite anyone out.

I am hosting along with uh a long experienced realtor in the community uh an event called the North Tulsa Homeowners Summit.

Come learn the steps to homeownership and great programs to assist with down payment assistance.

So this will be held on April the 4th, 2026 at 1 p.m.

at the historic Vernon AME church.

It will be and that's located at 311 North Greenwood.

So please come out and hear some good information.

Okay.

Um Counselor Dutton.

Yes, I would like to announce there's going to be a neighborhood infill uh meeting, an IO meeting that is going to uh piggyback off the meeting that Councillor Hell Harper hosted at Rudasville.

It will be Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.

The location is to be determined online.

It does say Maxwell Park Library, but that will not be large enough to accommodate the expected crowd that we uh anticipate will be there.

So keep an eye out on my Facebook uh Jackie for uh Tulsa City Council for updates on location and specific time.

I really would like everybody to come out to be able to hear this wonderful program that we have going for District 1 and District 3.

Thank you.

Councillor Arching, yes.

Um want to make a special invitation uh this coming Tuesday, March 31st.

If you are a faith leader, a pastor, a bishop, uh a spiritual leader of a congregation, or you know someone who uh who is, I want to invite you to the West Side Kingdom Network, uh myself and Emily Hall, who is our uh senior advisor to uh on homelessness.

We will be hosting a um a town hall for faith leaders who want to uh make positive change when it comes to um our unhoused residents and so city leaders like myself will be giving an update on the state of homelessness and take questions and discuss ways that churches uh and other faith communities can partner together to reduce homelessness in Tulsa.

Um it will be at the Mobile Missions Network uh formerly the Red Fork Baptist Church and uh snacks are provided and so um please come out uh this coming Tuesday.

All right, thank you, Councilor Bush.

Thank you.

Okay, Monday the 30th, before you go to all those other things on the 31st on that end.

Uh the city council is uh hosting our first hotel guest tax town hall.

So if you want to learn about more about that tax um proposition that uh will be on a ballot, please join us at 6 p.m.

It will be at OU Tulsa Schusterman Learning Center in the Perkins Auditorium, and that is at 41st and Yale.

And the event is from 6 to 8.

Right, thank you very much.

Any others?

All right.

Item number nine, new business.

There are no items this week.

10 hearing of appeals, no items, uh 11, hearing of public comments, no items.

Item number 12, we are adjourned.

Thank you.